Data signal smaller increase in health insurance costs

Insurance premium rates projected to rise 7 percent, less than feared

8:08 PM,
Apr. 17, 2014

Statisticians working with insurers to project next year's insurance premium rates say they expect to see an average increase of about 7 percent, well below the feared double-digit increases making recent headlines.

Written by

Kelly Kennedy
USA TODAY

Statisticians working with insurers to project next year's insurance premium rates say they expect to see an average increase of about 7 percent, well below the feared double-digit increases making recent headlines.

"The double-rate increases we've been hearing are probably exaggerated," said Dave Axene, a fellow with the Society of Actuaries, adding that there would be wide variation across the country. "That's not what we're seeing from the actuarial organizations - I guess we're being a little bit more optimistic."